Electronic Device Including Guide Rail

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under § 365(c), of International Application No. PCT/KR2025/005854, filed on Apr. 30, 2025, which is based on and claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0068982, filed on May 28, 2024, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0076293, filed on Jun. 12, 2024, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The embodiments of the disclosure relate to an electronic device including a guide rail.

Electronic devices are gradually becoming slimmer and more rigid, being enhanced in design aspects, and being improved to differentiate functional elements thereof. Electronic devices are gradually evolving from a uniform rectangular shape to diverse shapes. An electronic device may have a transformable structure that is convenient to carry and enables the use of a large-screen display. The electronic device may include a rollable electronic device (e.g., a slidable electronic device) capable of varying the display area of a flexible display (e.g., a rollable display) through the support of housings that operate in a sliding manner relative to each other. A rollable electronic device having a reliable guiding structure for a flexible display may be desired.

The above-described information may be provided as related art for the purpose of helping to understand the disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing may be applied as prior art with respect to the disclosure.

An electronic device may include a rollable electronic device (e.g., a slidable electronic device) capable of inducing expansion and/or contraction of a flexible display's display area (e.g., a rollable display, expandable display, or stretchable display), depending on the operating state. The rollable electronic device may include a first housing and a second housing movably coupled to each other. For example, the first housing and the second housing may be configured to slide relative to each other and support at least a portion of the flexible display. The flexible display may be configured to have a first display area in a slide-in state and a second display area, larger than the first display area, in a slide-out state.

The rollable electronic device may include a support member (e.g., a support bar assembly, multi-bar assembly, or flexible member) that moves together with the second housing as the second housing slides a predetermined distance from the first housing and is disposed to at least partially support the rear surface of the flexible display. The support member may support the rear surface of the flexible display and include multiple support bars spaced apart from each other at a specific interval. In the slide-in state, the support member and the flexible display may be at least partially accommodated within the inner space of the first housing. The support member may be disposed such that opposite ends of each of the multiple support bars are guided by a pair of guide rails disposed on both side surfaces of the first housing. For example, each of the multiple support bars may be coupled to the first housing such that guide protrusions formed at opposite ends thereof are guided by guide slits formed in the guide rails along the sliding direction of the second housing.

Each guide slit may include a linear section and a curved section extending from the linear section. The curved section may be formed in a “U” shape, and may provide a guide structure for partially accommodating the support bars and the flexible display within the inner space of the first housing.

The guide protrusions formed on the support bars may be advantageous in supporting the flexible display as the contact area with the inner surfaces of the guide slits increases in the linear section. However, a guide protrusion formed to have a relatively large contact area may not smoothly perform a guiding operation in the curved section due to interference from the inner surface of the guide slit. Therefore, the guide protrusions may be designed considering a guide structure for smooth guiding in the curved sections of the guide slits, and such a design structure may reduce the contact area (e.g., line contact) between the guide protrusions and the inner surfaces of the guide slits in the linear sections, making it difficult to smoothly support the flexible display. Such a reduced contact area may induce deformation of the flexible display and/or the support bars when subjected to external impacts such as, for example, dropping, thereby reducing the reliability of the product.

Various embodiments of the disclosure provide an electronic device including a guide rail that may help smoothly support and guide the flexible display through a reliable support structure of the support bars.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device including a guide rail that may help improve impact resistance of the flexible display through expansion of the contact area between the guide protrusions of the support bars and the guide slits in straight sections.

However, the problems that the disclosure seeks to solve are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and may be expanded in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include a flexible display, a first housing, a second housing movably coupled to the first housing, and a support member which supports at least a portion of the flexible display and moves according to movement of the second housing. The support member may include multiple support bars which support the rear surface of the flexible display, first guide protrusions respectively protruding from opposite ends of each of the multiple support bars, and second guide protrusions respectively extending from the first guide protrusions. The electronic device may include a guide rail disposed in the first housing and including a guide slit including a linear section and a curved section extending from the linear section. The guide slit may include a first guide slit extending from the linear section to the curved section and a second guide slit provided in the curved section. Among the first guide protrusions and the second guide protrusions, in the linear section, at least the first guide protrusions may be guided through the first guide slit, and in the curved section, the second guide protrusions may be guided through the first guide slit.

In an electronic device according to example embodiments of the disclosure, through the guiding structure in which the first guide protrusions and the second guide protrusions are guided through the first guide slit in the linear section, as only the second guide protrusions are guided through the first guide slit in the curved section, the contact area between the guide protrusions of the support bars and the inner surface of the guide slit in the linear section may be increased. This increase in contact area may induce smooth support for the flexible display and may help reduce the likelihood of damage or deformation of the flexible display and/or the support bars due to external impacts such as, for example, drops.

Various effects that are directly or indirectly identified through this document may be provided.

The effects that are capable of being obtained by the disclosure are not limited to those described herein, and other effects not described herein may be clearly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art to which the disclosure belongs based on the following description.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those ordinarily skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains can easily practice them. However, the disclosure may be implemented in many different forms without being limited to those embodiments described herein. In relation to the description of the drawings, identical or similar reference symbols may be used for the same or similar components. In some aspects, in the drawings and related descriptions, descriptions of well-known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and brevity.

Terms such as, for example, first, second, and the like may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms as used herein may distinguish one component from other components and are not to be limited by the terms. For example, without departing the scope of the present disclosure, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one” do not denote a limitation of quantity, and are intended to include both the singular and plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, “an element” has the same meaning as “at least one element,” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “At least one” is not to be construed as limiting “a” or “an.” “Or” means “and/or.” As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components.

The terms “about” or “approximately” as used herein are inclusive of the stated value and include a suitable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity. The term “about” can mean within one or more standard deviations, or within +30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value, for example.

The term “substantially,” as used herein, means approximately or actually. The term “substantially equal” means approximately or actually equal. The term “substantially the same” means approximately or actually the same. The term “substantially identical” means approximately or actually identical. The term “substantially perpendicular” means approximately or actually perpendicular. The term “substantially invisible” means approximately or actually invisible.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of example embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B”, “A, B, or C”, “at least one of A, B, and C”, and “at least one of A, B, or C”, may include any one of, or all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with”, “coupled to”, “connected with”, or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means that the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

is a block diagram illustrating an electronic devicein a network environmentaccording to various embodiments.

With reference to, the electronic devicein the network environmentmay communicate with an electronic devicevia a first network(e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or at least one of an electronic deviceor a servervia a second network(e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic devicemay communicate with the electronic devicevia the server. According to an embodiment, the electronic devicemay include a processor, memory, an input module, a sound output module, a display module, an audio module, a sensor module, an interface, a connecting terminal, a haptic module, a camera module, a power management module, a battery, a communication module, a subscriber identification module (SIM), or an antenna module. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the connecting terminal) may be omitted from the electronic device, or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device. In some embodiments, some of the components (e.g., the sensor module, the camera module, or the antenna module) may be implemented as a single component (e.g., the display module).

The processormay execute, for example, software (e.g., a program) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic devicecoupled with the processor, and may perform various data processing or computation. According to an embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or computation, the processormay store a command or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor moduleor the communication module) in volatile memory, process the command or the data stored in the volatile memory, and store resulting data in non-volatile memory. According to an embodiment, the processormay include a main processor(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)), or an auxiliary processor(e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main processor. In an example in which the electronic deviceincludes the main processorand the auxiliary processor, the auxiliary processormay be adapted to consume less power than the main processor, or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliary processormay be implemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor.

The auxiliary processormay control at least some of functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., the display module, the sensor module, or the communication module) among the components of the electronic device, instead of the main processorwhile the main processoris in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processorwhile the main processoris in an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor(e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera moduleor the communication module) functionally related to the auxiliary processor. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor(e.g., the neural processing unit) may include a hardware structure specified for artificial intelligence model processing. An artificial intelligence model may be generated by machine learning. Such learning may be performed, e.g., by the electronic devicewhere the artificial intelligence is performed or via a separate server (e.g., the server). Learning algorithms may include, but are not limited to, e.g., supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers. The artificial neural network may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), deep Q-network or a combination of two or more thereof but is not limited thereto. The artificial intelligence model may, additionally or alternatively, include a software structure other than the hardware structure.

The memorymay store various data used by at least one component (e.g., the processoror the sensor module) of the electronic device. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program) and input data or output data for a command related thereto. The memorymay include the volatile memoryor the non-volatile memory.

The programmay be stored in the memoryas software, and may include, For example, an operating system (OS), middleware, or an application.

The input modulemay receive a command or data to be used by another component (e.g., the processor) of the electronic device, from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device. The input modulemay include, For example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output modulemay output sound signals to the outside of the electronic device. The sound output modulemay include, For example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as, for example, playing multimedia or playing record. The receiver may be used for receiving incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display modulemay visually provide information to the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device. The display modulemay include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the display modulemay include a touch sensor adapted to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor adapted to measure the strength of force incurred by the touch.

The audio modulemay convert a sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio modulemay obtain the sound via the input module, or output the sound via the sound output moduleor a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupled with the electronic device.

The sensor modulemay detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic deviceor an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device, and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor modulemay include, For example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interfacemay support one or more specified protocols to be used for the electronic deviceto be coupled with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interfacemay include, For example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

A connecting terminalmay include a connector via which the electronic devicemay be physically connected with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device). According to an embodiment, the connecting terminalmay include, For example, a HDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic modulemay convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electrical stimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic modulemay include, For example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator.

The camera modulemay capture a still image or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera modulemay include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management modulemay manage power supplied to the electronic device. According to an embodiment, the power management modulemay be implemented as at least part of, For example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The batterymay supply power to at least one component of the electronic device. According to an embodiment, the batterymay include, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication modulemay support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic deviceand the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device, the electronic device, or the server) and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication modulemay include one or more communication processors that are operable independently from the processor(e.g., the application processor (AP)) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication modulemay include a wireless communication module(e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module(e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network(e.g., a short-range communication network, such as, for example, Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network(e.g., a long-range communication network, such as, for example, a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication modulemay identify and authenticate the electronic devicein a communication network, such as, for example, the first networkor the second network, using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module.

The wireless communication modulemay support a 5G network, after a 4G network, and next-generation communication technology, e.g., new radio (NR) access technology. The NR access technology may support enhanced mobile broadband (cMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), or ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). The wireless communication modulemay support a high-frequency band (e.g., the mmWave band) to achieve, e.g., a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication modulemay support various technologies for securing performance on a high-frequency band, such as, e.g., beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication modulemay support various requirements specified in the electronic device, an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device), or a network system (e.g., the second network). According to an embodiment, the wireless communication modulemay support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for implementing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for implementing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for each of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or a round trip of 1 ms or less) for implementing URLLC.

The antenna modulemay transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of the electronic device. According to an embodiment, the antenna modulemay include an antenna including a radiating element composed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to an embodiment, the antenna modulemay include a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas). In such a case, at least one antenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in the communication network, such as, for example, the first networkor the second network, may be selected, For example, by the communication module(e.g., the wireless communication module) from the plurality of antennas. The signal or the power may then be transmitted or received between the communication moduleand the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module.

According to various embodiments, the antenna modulemay form a mmWave antenna module. According to an embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, a RFIC disposed on a first surface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the first surface and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., the mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on a second surface (e.g., the top or a lateral) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the second surface and capable of transmitting or receiving signals of the designated high-frequency band.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic deviceand the external electronic devicevia the servercoupled with the second network. Each of the electronic deviceormay be a device of a same type as, or a different type, from the electronic device. According to an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronic devicemay be executed at one or more of the external electronic device, the external electronic device, or the server. For example, if the electronic deviceshould perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device, instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or the service. The electronic devicemay provide the outcome, with or without further processing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, For example. The electronic devicemay provide ultra low-latency services using, e.g., distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In another embodiment, the external electronic devicemay include an internet-of-things (IoT) device. The servermay be an intelligent server using machine learning and/or a neural network. According to an embodiment, the external electronic deviceor the servermay be included in the second network. The electronic devicemay be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) on the basis of 5G communication technology or IoT-related technology.

According to various embodiments, the sensor modulemay include a movement distance detection sensor to detect a movement distance of a second housing (e.g., a second housingin) from a first housing (e.g., a first housingin) of an electronic device (e.g., an electronic deviceof). In an embodiment, through movement of the second housingfrom the first housing, the sensor modulemay detect a slide-in state being a first state, a slide-out state being a second state, or an intermediate state being a third state between the slide-in state and the slide-out state. In a certain embodiment, the processormay detect the movement distance in real time through the sensor modulewhile the second housingis moved from the first housing, and control the display moduleto display an object in correspondence to the changing display area through a flexible display (e.g., flexible displayin). In an embodiment, the electronic devicemay include a drive motor control moduleto control the operation of a drive motor (e.g., DC motor or stepping motor) (e.g., drive motorin) disposed inside the electronic device. In an embodiment, the drive motor control modulemay be replaced by the processor.

illustrate front and rear views of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure in a slide-in state.illustrate front and rear views of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure in a slide-out state.

The electronic deviceofmay be at least partially similar to the electronic deviceofor may further include other embodiments of the electronic device.